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Alan Kelly

Alan Kelly is a foremost authority in competitive strategy and a leading innovator in the fields of communication, research, and technology marketing. He is the CEO and founder of The Playmaker’s Standard, LLC, a consulting and software services firm specializing in strategy execution, and author of The Elements of Influence: The New Essential System for Managing Competition, Reputation, Brand, and Buzz. As CEO of Applied Communications Group, an acclaimed San Francisco-based public relations and research consultancy, he formulated the discipline of “playmaking” while counseling some of the best known U.S. technology companies, including Oracle, HP, Cisco, Sun Microsystems, and Genentech among others. Kelly holds a master’s degree in Communication Research from Stanford University and now lives in Maryland.

Mental Health Awareness Month Resources

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and educators are increasingly aware that integrating social-emotional learning into the curriculum is critical if we want students to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Download the thematic educator guides on Teaching About Anxiety and Mindfulness and Teaching About Student Wellness. Explore our specially curated collections on

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Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Each May, we honor the stories, histories, and cultures of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Below is a selection of acclaimed fiction and nonfiction books by AANHPI creators to share with your students this month and throughout the year. AANHPI Creators – Middle School titles AANHPI Creators – High School titles .

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